Lateral tarpaulin suspension

ABSTRACT

A folding top for a commercial vehicle includes a folding top frame, bows supporting a roof covering, and side tarpaulins suspended by means of hanging sliders. The folding-top frame includes upper longitudinal flanges spanning at least part of the length of a loading compartment of the vehicle. The frame is supported against a chassis of the vehicle via upwardly protruding supports and stakes. The bows are supported on the upper longitudinal flanges and displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The side tarpaulins are suspended via the hanging sliders in a longitudinally displaceable manner on assigned running tracks of the upper longitudinal flanges. Each of the hanging sliders includes a fastening plate for connecting one of the side tarpaulins. The fastening plate is of two-part design and includes a first part connected to the slider and a second part connected to an upper end of the one of the side tarpaulins. The first part and the second part are adjustable relatively to each other counter to a resisting means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a side-tarpaulin suspension means onfolding tops for commercial vehicles, in particular folding tops whichcan be pushed together for vehicle bodies and containers.

In the case of known arrangements or suspension means, of sidetarpaulins on folding tops for vehicle bodies, in particular alsofolding tops that can be pushed together for vehicle bodies, provisionis typically made for the side tarpaulins to be suspended in a mannersuch that they can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of theside wall of the vehicle. Such side tarpaulins are typically suspendedvia hanging sliders which are additionally suspended in most cases bymeans of two partially spherical rollers in complementarily designedrunning tracks of the upper longitudinal members of the folding-topframe. The side tarpaulins are usually tensioned via tensioning deviceswhich engage at their lower end or at least interact with engagementmeans arranged at their lower end, in order to prevent the sidetarpaulins from billowing out when the vehicle is being driven. Theknown tensioning means, which engage in the lower region of the sidetarpaulins, may be associated with a considerable effort having to bemade by the operator. Alternatively, they may be associated with arelatively high outlay on production if the conditions stipulated forparticular transport systems have to be met, for example, the so calledpiggy-back transportation of European railways conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a side-tarpaulinsuspension means which, with a simple suspension means, makes possible afavorable tensioning device for the side-wall tarpaulins of a vehiclebody.

According to the invention, this object may be achieved in the case ofthe side-tarpaulin suspension means mentioned at the beginning in thatthe fastening plate is of two-part design, that the one part of thefastening plate is connected to the slider engaging in the running trackof the upper longitudinal flange of the folding-top frame, and the otherpart of the fastening plate is connected to the tarpauling, and that thetwo parts of the fastening plate can be adjusted relative to eachcounter to a resisting means.

A side-tarpaulin suspension means is therefore provided which improvesconventional designs for commercial vehicles, in particular in the caseof designs for vehicle bodies and containers, to the effect that whilethe longitudinally displaceable side-wall tarpaulins still have a simplesuspension means and simple manoeuvrabilty, an improved tensioningdevice, which is optimized with regard to the expenditure of energyassociated therewith, for side-wall tarpaulins of a vehicle body isachieved.

The shifting of the means for tensioning and maintaining the tensioningof the side-wall tarpaulin from the lower end thereof to the upper endthereof first of all brings about a simplification of the manoeuvring ofthe side-wall tarpaulin as it is being opened and closed, since theside-wall tarpaulin now only has to be fastened by its lower end to thevehicle body and the tensioning then automatically arises from thespring forces acting at the upper end on the side-wall tarpaulin. Aboveall, the operator no longer needs to pay attention to maintaining andobtaining tensioning of the side-wall tarpaulin. Finally, the shiftingof the device for tensioning and maintaining the tensioning of theside-wall tarpaulin from the lower, mnanoeuvrable end thereof to theupper end thereof also results in a simplification of the tensioningmeans. In particular, the means provided according to the invention forproducing a resistance against a relative movement of the two parts ofthe fastening plate may be of completely different design and, forexample, even formed by strips or blocks of an elastically deformablematerial.

In the case of a device for producing and maintaining tensioning in aside-wall tarpaulin of a vehicle body, provision is expediently made forthe two parts of the fastening plate to be movable relative to eachother counter to the load of a tension spring. The tension spring canadvantageously be formed by a helical spring and can be fitted at oneend to that part of the fastening plate which is connected to the sliderand at the other end to that part of the fastening plate which isfastened to the tarpaulin, in each case by means of a hole recess and apartially annular end hook.

In order to obtain and ensure as frictionless as possible an adjustmentof the two parts of a divided fastening plate even after relatively longoperating times and exposure to the effects of environmental conditions,provision is preferably additionally made for the two parts which can bemoved relative to each other of the fastening plate to be guided on eachother, preferably by that part of the fastening plate which is connectedto the slider being designed as a planar flat material blank which isprovided with a central oblong recess and by that part of the fasteningplate which is connected to the tarpaulin being of bracket-shaped designand being provided at least on one side with claws which grip behind thelongitudinal edges of the oblong recess in that part which is connectedto the slider.

In a further advantageous refinement, provision may further be made forthe back surface, which is assigned to the fastening of the tarpaulin,of that part of the fastening plate which is to be connected to thetarpaulin to have an essentially triangular outline shape which tapersfrom the top downwards, and therefore with a design which in itselfsaves on weight to the greatest possible extent, for the greatestpossible bearing surface to be ensured at least for the connection tothe side-wall tarpaulin.

Provision can further expediently be made for the tarpaulin to befastened in the region of its greatest width to a back surface of thepart connected to the tarpaulin by means of a pressure-distributionplate and a riveted joint comprising at least two rivets.

As an alternative to this, it is, however, advantageously possible todesign a side-wall-tarpaulin suspension means according to the inventionin such a manner that the one part of the fastening plate which isconnected to the tarpaulin and has an outline shape which tapers fromthe top downwards is designed such that it grips with its upper regionaround that part of the fastening plate which is connected to the sliderand in this region is guided on the part of the fastening plate which isconnected to the slider by means of an oblong recess in that leg regionof its bracket shape which is set perpendicular to the plane of its backsurface.

In connection with such a form of implementation, provision can thenexpediently furthermore be made for the recess which is arranged in thelongitudinal centre of that part of the fastening plate which isconnected to the slider and which has a width over the length of thebracket-shaped part which essentially corresponds in width to thediameter of the tension spring to be provided in its lower region with awidened portion.

Irrespective of the preferred form of implementation in each case, anadvantageous manner of refinement resides in the fact that the sliderwhich is connected to the one part of the fastening plate and is guidedin the running track of the upper longitudinal flange of the folding-topframe comprises two rollers which are each partially spherical.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from thefollowing description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in greater detail below using apreferred exemplary embodiment and by reference to the attacheddrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle body provided with atarpaulin structure.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the upper region of a preferredexemplary embodiment of a side-tarpaulin suspension means according tothe invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the upper region of the side-tarpaulinsuspension means of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the case of a vehicle body which is merely illustrated schematicallyin FIG. 1 and is provided with a folding top which can be pushedtogether and side tarpaulins which can be pushed together, thefolding-top frame primarily consists of upper longitudinal flanges 2which span the length of the loading compartment and are supportedagainst the vehicle chassis via upwardly protruding supports and stakes1, the bows 3 which support a roof covering, in particular a tarpaulin,and, when the folding top is closed, at the same time effect transversebracing of the upper region of the folding-top frame and can bedisplaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, being supportedon the upper longitudinal flanges 2. The upper longitudinal flanges 2are suspended for their part via a number of stakes 1 which can bedisplaced longitudinally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle,and the side tarpaulins 4 are suspended in a longitudinally displaceablemanner on the upper longitudinal flanges 2. The suspension means for theside tarpaulin 4 on a folding-top frame of this type chiefly compriseshanging sliders 5 which are suspended in a longitudinally displaceablemanner on assigned running tracks 7 of the upper longitudinal flanges 2of the folding-top frame by means of rollers 6, and which are eachconnected to a side-wall tarpaulin 4 via a fastening plate 8.

The fastening plate 8 is basically of two-part design and comprises afirst part 10 which is connected to the rollers 6 engaging in therunning track 7 of the upper longitudinal flange 2 of the folding-topframe, and a second part 11 which is connected to the tarpaulin 4. Thetwo parts 10 and 11 of the fastening plate 8 can be moved relative toeach other counter to the load of a tension spring 12.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, thetension spring 12 is formed by a helical spring which is fitted at oneend to that part 10 of the fastening plate 8 which is connected to theslider and at the other end to that part 11 of the fastening plate 8which is fastened to the tarpaulin 4, in each case by means of apartially annular end hook 13. Of the two parts 10 and 11 of thefastening plate 8 which are guided on each other and can be movedrelative to each other, the part 10 which is connected to the slider isdesigned as a planar flat material blank which is provided with acentral oblong recess 15, and that part 11 of the fastening plate 8which is connected to the tarpaulin 4 is of bracket-shaped design.Furthermore, the part 11, which is of bracket-shaped design, is providedat least on one side with claws 16 which grip behind the longitudinaledges 14 of the oblong recess 15 in the part 10 which is connected tothe slider.

The back surface 17, which is assigned to the fastening of the tarpaulin4, of that part 11 of the fastening plate 8 which is to be connected tothe tarpaulin 4 has an essentially triangular outline shape taperingfrom the top downwards. In the exemplary embodiment shown, that part 11of the fastening plate 8 which is connected to the tarpaulin 4 isdesigned such that it grips in its upper region around that part of thefastening plate 8 which is connected to the slider and is guided in thisregion on that part 10 of the fastening plate 8 which is connected tothe slider by means of an oblong recess in that leg region of itsbracket shape which is set perpendicular to the plane of its backsurface. The oblong recess 15 which is arranged in the longitudinalcentre of the part 10 connected to the slider and has a width over thelength of the bracket-shaped part 11 which corresponds in width to thediameter of the tension spring 12 is provided in its lower region with awidened portion 18.

The tarpaulin 4 is fastened in the region of its greatest width to theback surface of the part 10 connected to the tarpaulin 4 by means of apressure-distribution plate 19 and a riveted joint comprising at leasttwo rivets 20. The slider 5 which is connected to the one part 10 of thefastening plate 8 and is guided in the running track 7 of the upperlongitudinal flange 2 of the folding-top frame comprises two rollers 21,22 which are each partially spherical.

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding top for a commercial vehicle,comprising: a folding-top frame having upper longitudinal flangesspanning at least part of the length of a loading compartment of saidvehicle, said frame being supported against a chassis of said vehiclevia upwardly protruding supports and stakes, and side tarpaulinssuspended by means of hanging sliders in a longitudinally displaceablemanner on assigned running tracks of said upper longitudinal flanges,each of said hanging sliders comprising a fastening plate for connectingone of said side tarpaulins, said fastening plate being of two-partdesign and comprising a first part connected to said slider and a secondpart connected to an upper end of said one of said side tarpaulins, saidfirst part and said second part being adjustable relatively to eachother counter to a helical tension spring fitted at one end to saidfirst part and at the other end to said second part, in each case bymeans of a partially annular end hook.
 2. The folding top as recited inclaim 1 further comprising bows supporting a tarpaulin roof covering,said bows being supported on said upper longitudinal flanges anddisplaceable in a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.
 3. The foldingtop according to claim 2 wherein said bows bring about transversebracing of the upper region of the folding-top frame when the foldingtop is closed.
 4. The folding top according to claim 1 wherein saidfirst part and said second part are guided on each other, wherein saidfirst part is designed as a planar flat material blank provided with acentral oblong recess, wherein said second part is of bracket-shapeddesign and is provided at least on one side with claws, and wherein saidclaws grip behind longitudinal edges of said oblong recess.
 5. Thefolding top according to claim 4 wherein said second part has a backsurface with an essentially triangular outline shape tapering from a topof the second part downwards.
 6. The folding top according to claim 5wherein said second part grips with an upper region around said firstpart and in the upper region is guided on said first part by a leg setperpendicular to a plane of said back surface in said oblong recess. 7.The folding top according to claim 6 wherein said oblong recess has awidth over a length of said second part, the width essentiallycorresponding in width to a diameter of a tension spring, the recessbeing provided in its lower region with a widened portion.
 8. Thefolding top according to claim 1 wherein said side tarpaulin is fastenedin the region of a greatest width to a back surface of said second partby means of a pressure-distribution plate and a riveted joint comprisingat least two rivets.
 9. The folding top according to claim 1 whereinsaid hanging slider comprises a roller longitudinally displaceable insaid running track.
 10. The folding top according to claim 1 whereinsaid hanging slider comprises a first roller and a second roller, eachof said rollers being at least partially spherical.
 11. The folding topaccording to claim 1 wherein said commercial vehicle is selected fromthe group comprising vehicle bodies and containers.
 12. A folding topfor a commercial vehicle, comprising: a folding-top frame having upperlongitudinal flanges spanning at least part of the length of a loadingcompartment of said vehicle, said frame being supported against achassis of said vehicle via upwardly protruding supports and stakes, andside tarpaulins suspended by means of hanging sliders in alongitudinally displaceable manner on assigned running tracks of saidupper longitudinal flanges, each of said hanging sliders comprising afastening plate for connecting one of said side tarpaulins, saidfastening plate being of two-part design and comprising a first partincluding a planar flat material having a central oblong recessconnected to said slider and a second part including a bracket-shapedelement having claws on at least one side part gripping behindlongitudinal edges of said oblong recess, the first and second partsbeing connected to an upper end of said one of said side tarpaulins,said first part and said second part being guided on each other andadjustable relative to each other counter to a resisting means.
 13. Thefolding top according to claim 12 wherein said resisting means comprisesa tension spring.
 14. The folding top according to claim 13 wherein saidtension spring is designed as a helical spring and is fitted at one endto said first part and at the other end to said second part, in eachcase by means of a partially annular end hook.
 15. The folding topaccording to claim 12 wherein said second part has a back surface withan essentially triangular outline shape tapering from a top of thesecond part downwards.
 16. The folding top according to claim 15 whereinsaid second part grips with an upper region around said first part andin the upper region is guided on said first part by a leg setperpendicular to a plane of said back surface in said oblong recess. 17.The folding top according to claim 16 wherein said oblong recess has awidth over a length of said second part, the width essentiallycorresponding in width to a diameter of a tension spring, the recessbeing provided in its lower region with a widened portion.
 18. Thefolding top according to claim 12 wherein said side tarpaulin isfastened in the region of a greatest width to a back surface of saidsecond part by means of a pressure-distribution plate and a rivetedjoint comprising at least two rivets.
 19. The folding top according toclaim 12 wherein said hanging slider comprises a roller longitudinallydisplaceable in said running track.
 20. The folding top according toclaim 12 wherein said commercial vehicle is selected from the groupcomprising vehicle bodies and containers.
 21. A hanging slider forsuspending a side-wall tarpaulin to an upper longitudinal flange of acommercial vehicle, said hanging slider comprising: a roller guided in arunning track of said longitudinal flange, said roller comprising afirst flat part; a fastening plate connected to said side-walltarpaulin; and an expandable spring allowing a relative movement betweensaid roller and said fastening plate, wherein an upper end of saidspring is suspended to said first part of said roller and wherein saidfastening plate is suspended to a lower end of said spring.
 22. Thehanging slider according to claim 21 wherein said expandable springincludes a helical spring having a partially annular hook at each end,and wherein the fastening plate includes claws gripping said first flatpart for defining an axial guide mechanism.